English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has rejected a proposal to reduce the major European leagues to 16 teams and play Champions League fixtures at weekends.
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell put forward the plan at a conference in Qatar earlier this week as a way of bolstering the Champions League.
But Scudamore said while the idea may have some merit from a Spanish perspective, it was of no interest to leading English teams.
And he was adamant there were no plans to reduce the Premier League from its current 20 teams.
“Well that’s very nice of him to issue that as a statement but that’s a very Barcelona-centric view,” Scudamore said.
“Our clubs have no view whatsoever to be playing European football on a weekend.
“European football is a midweek competition, and domestic football is a weekend competition.”
European breakaway
Rosell even suggested a European breakaway league, led by the European Club Association of which he is vice-president, if the number of clubs is not reduced.
With the ECA’s memorandum of understanding with UEFA expiring in 2014, Rosell’s recent comments appear to be a way of trying to put pressure on the European football governing body to agree to the changes he wants.
“We want to have the Champions League under the UEFA umbrella but we want UEFA to hear our demands. We would like to have a Champions League with more teams,” he said.
“If UEFA and the ECA reach an agreement then that’s good for both parties. If not, with or without the UEFA umbrella, the ECA is entitled to organise their own champions’ competition by themselves.
“In the worst case scenario, we will go away from UEFA,” he said.
However, Scudamore said talk of a breakaway league was unrealistic.
“It’s just not going to happen. What has been said has been said but I’m not going to go along with the sentiment.
“In reality we have a Champions League, it’s a fantastic competition. Obviously there are some things the clubs would like to alter and ultimately discussions will take place and UEFA will do something to make sure things stay intact.
“When it comes to ultimate football sanctions you just can’t break away.”